Governor’s Budget Bill:  The Biennial Operating Budget Bill (HB 166) was introduced in the House March 25 and under Ohio’s Constitution, must be signed by the Governor by June 30.   The proposed budget appropriates total spending of $69.56 billion in FY 2020, an increase of 4.1% from the current budget, and $71.29 billion in FY 2021, or a 2.5% increase.  A link to the full bill can be found at:  https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA133-HB-166 and the Legislative Service Commission’s Analysis is at: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=11470&format=pdf

Governor’s Budget Bill:  Governor DeWine announced details of his new two-year budget on Friday March 15. The actual budget bill will be introduced in the legislature shortly.  The proposed spending outline for Fiscal Years 2020-2021 includes nearly $70 billion in General Revenue Fund and $150.4 billion in all funds appropriations.  It includes a $500 million increase in public-school funding targeted to pay for services for at-risk students, a $900 million “H2 Ohio” water protection fund and $200 million on new initiatives aimed at addiction and mental health.  The bill will significantly boost funding for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant and provide up to $15 million per year to provide “Micro-degrees” (industry credentials) at no cost to a minimum of 10,000 Ohioans, as long as they remain in Ohio after completion. Micro-degrees are low-cost credentials that take a student less than a year to complete and quickly qualify Ohioans to work in growing industries. State support for indigent defense would also increase under the proposal, from $30 million to $90 million, a move that will help counties who have had to bear the brunt of spending in this area.  The bill does not cut or increase taxes, and spending increases are projected to be funded by increased revenues based on an expectation of slow but steady economic growth.  Further details can be found at http://budget.ohio.gov/.   Details about workforce and innovation proposals are at http://budget.ohio.gov/WorkforceInnovation.aspx.

JobsOhio: Governor Mike DeWine announced on March 13 that Richard J. “Rick” Platt of Newark (Licking Co.) has been appointed to the JobsOhio Board of Directors for a term beginning March 13, 2019, and ending July 5, 2019.  Rick serves as the President and CEO of the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority and has a broad background in economic development.

Governor’s State of the State Address:  On March 5, 2019, Governor Mike DeWine (R) delivered his first State of the State address during a joint House and Senate session in the Statehouse.  The Governor restated his administration’s top priorities, which include Children’s Initiatives,  Opiate/Heroin Addition Prevention & Treatment, Lake Erie’s Water Quality, Economic Development/Workforce Development and Energy.  He also called for all Ohioans to work together to move the state forward.

Governor Mike DeWine and the Board of Directors of JobsOhio announced February 14 that J.P. Nauseef has been selected as the next president and chief investment officer of JobsOhio. Mr. Nauseef will start the new role in March and replace John Minor, who had served since 2012. Mr. Nauseef is a former U.S. Air Force officer with experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors and most notably was the president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition. More information is at: https://governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/governor/media/news-and-media/021419a

Goodbye Governor Kasich, Hello New Administration:

New Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted were sworn in to office shortly after midnight on Monday, January 14. Ceremonial swearing-in events occurred at Noon at the Statehouse, and the inaugural ball occurred there the evening of January 14.

Ceremonies and receptions for others elected to statewide office (Attorney General Dave Yost, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, State Auditor Keith Faber and State Treasurer Robert Sprague) also occurred January 14.